NKp44-NKp44 Ligand Interactions in the Regulation of Natural Killer Cells and Other Innate Lymphoid Cells in Humans

NKp44-NKp44 Ligand Interactions in the Regulation of Natural Killer Cells and Other Innate Lymphoid Cells in Humans Monica Parodi1, Herman Favoreel2, Giovanni Candiano3, Silvia Gaggero4, Simona Sivori4,5, Maria Cristina Mingari1,4,5, Lorenzo Moretta6, Massimo Vitale1 and Claudia Cantoni4,5,7* 1Immunology Operative Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy 2Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium 3Laboratory of Molecular Nephrology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy 4Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy 5Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy 6Department of Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy 7Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy Natural Killer (NK) cells are potent cytotoxic cells belonging to the family of Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILCs). Their most characterized effector functions are directed to the control of aberrant cells in the body, including both transformed and virus-infected cells. NK cell-mediated recognition of abnormal cells primarily occurs through receptor-ligand interactions, involving an array of inhibitory and activating NK receptors and different types of ligands expressed on target cells. While most of the receptors have become known over many years, their respectiv...
Source: Frontiers in Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research